I didn't see Raw or Smackdown last week as I was away from home but don't feel like I have missed anything. It is the first time for a long time this has happened but I don't have a desire to go back and watch it, and equally I am not that bothered I won't be able to watch Raw tomorrow (I've never stayed up to watch it live here in the UK!) but don't feel like I will be missing out. Surely this isn't a good sign. Not having a thread about either show makes me think there was nothing of note happening again. I am going to make an effort to watch NXT from last week as the Dunne match sounded great, as per usual and this weeks with the loser leaves NXT match will surely be great. But Raw and Smackdown? Maybe they will both be great but at the moment I don't expect them to be. Hopefully I am completely wrong and Raw will be superb.... Fingers crossed!
It's been a long time since I've made an effort to catch Raw or SmackDown weekly and I rarely feel like I'm missing out. Judging by the activity here, I assume others feel the same. As far as the main roster shows go, I find the PPVs are just about enough for me. They're infrequent enough that I wind up looking forward to them as long as I'm not burnt out from watching the weekly shows. If I try watching a whole Raw, I usually hit the "Jesus Christ, isn't this over yet?" point about halfway through.
I watch NXT and New Japan on AXS weekly. NXT is more logically consistent than the main shows, it isn't an interminable chore to watch, and sometimes you get really good matches. And while I wish New Japan was more current (even though it's improved a lot in that regard lately), it's good enough that I don't mind being behind and already knowing the results. Plus AXS is a good-ass channel that's all wrestling, MMA, concerts, and movie trailers.
205 Live might get back onto my DVR schedule for a trial run, now that it's more wrestling-focused and there's the long-ish term story of the title tournament.
But back to Raw and SmackDown, someone has to be really into them, right? It can't all just be inertia.
Did solo commentary for Glory Pro Wrestling last night. Great show, met Naito and Lufisto. Indie rasslin is definitely my thing nowadays, along with New Japan and Lucha Underground(when it's on).
I can only assume that Vince is off figuring out where his football is, cuz they went and had about a two-hour gauntlet match last night. With over half of that involving Seth Rollins.
Monday Night Rollins was wondrous. He and Cena had an extended RAW feud awhile back, and they went right back to their great chemistry last night while I prayed minute by minute that Rollins wouldn't tear a ligament or quad.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Originally posted by Matt TrackerMonday Night Rollins was wondrous. He and Cena had an extended RAW feud awhile back, and they went right back to their great chemistry last night while I prayed minute by minute that Rollins wouldn't tear a ligament or quad.
I thought the gauntlet match was great. If nothing else it was something completely different, which we don't get on Raw like ever. Rollins was definitely the highlight but I'm enjoying Elias, Miz and Braun enough that I enjoyed the second half alright too.
It's too bad Elimination Chamber is right before Wrestlemania and it's inevitable than Roman is going to win because if this PPV was in, say, August I'd say this is maybe the most balanced, well booked, stacked Elimination Chamber ever. They've done a good job of giving just about everybody their shine: Braun - Pretty much destroying everyone. Miz - Beat Roman Reigns twice, eliminated Balor last night Elias - got to lay out John Cena at Raw 25 and won the triple threat match to enter the Chamber last, eliminated Rollins last night Cena - beat Miz last week Rollins - lasts 1 hour in the gauntlet match and pins Reigns and Cena clean back-to-back. Reigns - doesn't really need to be put over Balor - this is really the only one they didn't do much with
The women have been great lately too. Asuka, Sasha and Bayley have all been killing it in the ring and Alexa's character work has been on point. Unfortunatley, Elimination Chamber is pretty much a two match card.
After missing last weeks I had to watch the match most are raving about and glad I did! It is rare that there is that much wrestling on a wrestling show and most people seemed to really enjoy it.
Who would have thought wrestling fans like to watch matches rather than backstage skits and interviews?! Surely this means they are going to push Seth - they couldn't let him do all that and then forget it. What is he going to do at Mania?Roman losing was sensible if he is winning on Sunday as that is what they usually do. And it is unlikely they are going to waste a years worth of planning at the last minute.
Strowman is over, and in a big way but would they want to put the title on him at any stage or are they going to have him just look good without the title in an Andre sort of way and destroy people? If you had to choose between Strowman and Lesnar or Roman and Lesnar who would you go for main eventing Mania - forget about their plans and what they want, just a fans opinion of what would be best at this stage.
Originally posted by kellogs But Raw and Smackdown? Maybe they will both be great but at the moment I don't expect them to be. Hopefully I am completely wrong and Raw will be superb.... Fingers crossed!
So you are only going to use your powers for good, right?
The gauntlet match was great. I can't add anything that hasn't already been said, but man did Rollins look like a million bucks. I though he was the least likely to win at Elimination Chamber, but now I'm not so sure.
It's the most important meal of the day.
http://toomuchbreakfast.tumblr.com/
Originally posted by kellogsWhat is he going to do at Mania?Roman losing was sensible if he is winning on Sunday as that is what they usually do. And it is unlikely they are going to waste a years worth of planning at the last minute.
Strowman is over, and in a big way but would they want to put the title on him at any stage or are they going to have him just look good without the title in an Andre sort of way and destroy people? If you had to choose between Strowman and Lesnar or Roman and Lesnar who would you go for main eventing Mania - forget about their plans and what they want, just a fans opinion of what would be best at this stage.
If the question is am I more interested in Reigns or Braun right now, it's Braun. But I also have no interest in Brock anymore so I'm fine with Reigns wrestling him. In fact I'm kind of hoping the Rousey mixed tag match and Reigns/Brock go on last so I can just turn it off after AJ/Nakamura and cut the show by an hour or so. (Maybe close to 2 hours if we get that Cena/Undertaker match too.)
I'd like to see Seth vs. Braun. Yeah they're both over as faces right now and I'd like to see them both win but from a let's fantasy book a dream card situation I'd like to see what a top of his game Seth could do with Braun.
Originally posted by JimBob SkeeterI just watched parts of the gauntlet match, but the best part is at the end when Braun morphs into Chuck Norris and says that the Unknown Fears Him.
I thought the best part was when the whole crowd went "BRAUN!" at the end. Braun is arguably the most over guy on RAW right now. I say, run with it. Finally pull the trigger, give him the Chamber, and put him over Brock at Mania. I don't think there's any such thing as a good Brock match at this point, but Braun at least would be new and exciting as champ; do it.
As for Roman, I'd just move him into a match with Seth at Mania over whether it's Roman's Yard or Monday Night Rollins. You don't even have to turn one of them heel, and it gives you the SHIELD vs. SHIELD match they allegedly wanted in the first place with Dean. That's a stronger overall card, I think.
Not that I can fault Quezzy for wanting to cut an hour out of Mania weekend. Man, is that ever an endurance test!
Rollins was great. The announcers made sure to bring up his tenacity and stamina over and over. Let's hope they do something with it. I noticed that Reigns was the only one who didn't get interviewed following his loss. I also noticed that the crowd cheered for all the names he dropped before the match except Cena (and him) I mean, that's nothing new I guess but it does show that the crowd enjoys Miz and Elias too. Loved Elias reasoning in his interview. "Yeah sure I lost now. But didya see how tired he was? They'll all be like that on Sunday!" Cena making excuses was kinda silly. Well, I was busy with other things and errr I need an opponent still.
It's insane how much better a wrestling show can be when it features wrestling. Even the 3rd hour after the gauntlet match clicked with me.
I am not in the US, so can't really watch live. Not sure I would be able to watch the entire 5 hours live, in any case.
However, WWE now puts up the most interesting parts of Raw and Smackdown on their youtube page almost as soon as it happens. That is more than sufficient for me these days.
I don't know how many here care about NWA Hollywood but I attended the TV tapings Sunday night. I won't go into a lot of detail, give full coverage or do spoilers but I'll point out some of the stuff to look out for.